manning



E. 0. MANNING.

, COFFIN. No. 404,639. Patented June 4, 1889 I INVENTOR dwin Manning.

Attorney N. iETERS. Pholo-Lflhognphcr. Wnshingion, D.C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDI-VIN C. MANNING, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

C O F Fl N SPECIFICATI ON forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,639, dated June 4, 1889. Application filed May 25, 1888. Serial No. 275,094. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern- Be it known that I, EDWIN C. MANNING, of WVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ventilating Coffins and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to ventilating coffins.

The object is to produce a coffin which shall be of such construction that the effluvia arising from the corpse will be carried away by a draft created for that purpose; furthermore, to provide means for suspending the corpse, whereby the draft is permitted to pass over the entire body of the corpse, and, finally, to produce a coffin which shall be simple of construction, efficient and durable in use, and comparatively inexpensive of production.

With these objects in view the invention consists, broadly, in providing a coffin with openings at its ends; furthermore, in thecombination, with a coffin provided with open ends, of wire fabric secured over said ends; furthermore,in the combination, with a coffin, of a basket suspended therein; furthermore, in the combination, with a coffin provided with a series of hooks upon its inner sides, of a basket arranged within said coffin and engaging the said hooks; furthermore, in the combination, with a coffin constructed with open ends, of frames having attached thereto wire fabrics and adapted to be secured to the ends of said coffin; furthermore, in the combination, with a coffin constructed with open ends, of frames having wire fabrics attached thereto and adapted to be secured to the ends of said coffin, and removablysecured end pieces for closing the said open ends, and, finally, in the various novel details of construction whereby its objects are attained.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference denote corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a plan view of the coffin. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line a: as, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end View with the end piece removed. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line y 1 Fig. 1, showing the cover in position; and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View of the several parts disconnected.

In the accompanying drawings, A designatesa coffin. ofthe ordinary or desired construction having its ends removed. A series of hooks B are arranged along the interior sides of the coffin near its upper edge, and C designates another series of hooks arranged in the bottom of the coffin. A basketD, preferably of coarse wire fabric, is placed in the coffin and has its upper edges engaged by the upper series of hooks, wh le the bottom of the basket is engaged by the lower series of hooks, thus preventing vertical and horizontal movement of the basket.

' E denotes rectangular frames, upon the inner sides of which are secured fine wire fabrics F, which are'braced by the center pieces G. These frames, after having secured to them the wire fabrics, are secured to the open ends of the coffin, and have removably secured to them the end pieces H, which fit snugly between the inner edges of the frame,

forming an air-tight joint, and which are secured in position by the ornamented thumbscrews I, which pass through the center pieces hereinbefore referred to. A hook I is secured in each of these center pieces and engages the edges of the bottom of the basket, thus preventing its movement longitudinally.

The coffin is adapted to be placed in cells or vaults wherein a current of air is caused to enter and be drawn out. Thus, when the coffin is in position in one of these cells and the end pieces have been removed, the air will enter through theends, circulate around the corpse, and then be drawn through the outer end of the coffin and out through the hole or outlet in the rear wall of the cell by any suitable means which may be employed. It will be seen that while the corpse is in the basket liquid or matter dropping from the corpse will fall through the basket onto the bottom of the coffin, and will be eventually taken away by the draft, thus preventing the matter coming in contact with the body after it has once left it. In transferring the dead to these cells the end 'piecesof the coffin will prevent any disagreeable odor escaping from the coffin, as hereinbefore stated, as they form an air-tight joint with the rectangular frames E. By securing the basket removably it need not be suspended until the coffin reaches the place of intermentnamely, the cells.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the operation and ad vantages of the invention will be readily understood without requiring an extended description. It will be seen that all the eflluvia will be quickly carried from the body, thus preserving or mummifying it. It will further be seen that by securing the fine-wire fabric at each open end of the coflin insects will be prevented from entering and depositing their eggs upon the corpse.

It will be observed from the foregoing that I have constructed a coffin which, while it presents extcriorly the appearance of an ordinary burial-case, is especially designed and adapted for final interment in the cells or recesses of a vault or mausoleum, which cells com munica-tewith a suitable ventilator, so that when the cofiin is inclosed in a cell the body can be subjected to currents of dry air, which will not only rapidly absorb and carry off the moisture and gases from the body, but which will also desiccate 0r mummify the body in the coiiin confined in the said cell. It will be also observed thatIprovide for substantially sustaining the body within and free from the walls of the coffin by means of a reticulated basket, preferably of woven wire, whereby the drying-currents of air shall have free and uninterrupted access to every part of the body during the drying and deodorizing process, said basket being so suspended and held in the coffin that there will be no displacement of the body during transportation to the place for interment.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. The combination,with a coffin constructed with open ends, of frames having wire fabrics attached thereto, said frames secured to the open ends of the said coflin, and removablysecured end pieces, substantially as set forth.

2. A coffin provided with a reticulated basket suspended within its walls, free therefrom, in combination with ventilating-passages covered with wire-gauze, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a COifill, a corpse-sup porting reticulated basket suspended therein, opposite openings through its walls covered with wire-gauze, and removable air-tightfitting covers for-said openings, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. A ventilating cofiin having openings at both ends covered with a fine-wire fabric, for the purpose specified.

5. The combination, with a coffin having open ends covered by a wire fabric, of the end pieces or covers 11, the center pieces G, and the fastening-screws for securing said end pieces to the said center picces,substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ED\VIN C. MANNING.

Vitnesses:

M. B. HARRIS, BENJ. G. (BOWL. 

